This theater was founded in 1989 by five alums of Cal State Fullerton and tends toward new, eclectic works as well as revivals and classics. Their name comes from the belief in both the openness of the spirit and the power of the fist...or something like that.

The Open Fist Theatre Company has been in its current home (which used to house the Actors Gang) since January 2006, when it was pushed from the original space by space-hungry developers. But OFTC has made its new home thrive. The 60-odd members still staging around six productions per season on the main stage, in addition to the occasional late-night and one-act shows. Dedicated to a philosophy that encompasses social change and community awareness, its not surprising that the Open Fist Theatre is open to a variety of productions. Pieces by Eugene Ionesco, Euripides, William Shakespeare, Anton Chekhov, Tennessee Williams, Antoine De Saint-Exupery, Edward Albee and Bertolt Brecht are standard fare, as are works from contemporary playwrights like Tony Kushner and Neil LaBute. —Elisa Jacobs